Backfill tamper



June 3, 1958 TAYLOR 2,837,058

BACKFILL TAMPER Filed March 31, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig/ v 0 Edward F.Taylor INVENTOR.

BY WW 3M E. F. TAYLOR BACKFILL TAMPER June 3, W58

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 31, 1955 Edward F. Taylor INVENTOR.

2,837,58 Fatented June 3, 1%58 BACKFILL TAMPER Edward F. Taylor, Denver,Colo.

Application March 31, 1955, Serial No. 498,318

12 Claims. (Cl. 121-1) This invention comprises novel and usefulimprovements in a backfill tamper, and relates generally to the type ofapparatus disclosed in the reissue patent to John W. Brown which wasreissued on January 5, 1954, as Reissue No. 23,763, for a BackfillTamper.

The primary objects of this invention are to provide 1 an apparatuswhereby a plurality of conventional pneumatic reciprocating tools suchas tamper units may be supported for easy maneuvering as a singleunitary assembly, and wherein they may be supplied readily with fluidunder pressure from a common source,

A further object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic tampingdevice wherein a plurality of conventional tamper units may be securedtogether and handled as a unitary assembly, to thereby greatly improvethe tamping operation to be performed by the tamper units; and wherebythe ease of handling and the general maneuverability of the device maybe greatly increased through a more satisfactory and advantageousconnection of the device to a source of fluid under pressure; andwherein the operation of the tamper units of the device may be furtherincreased by the provision in a compact and highly satisfactoryarrangement of a fluid filtering device within the unit.

A further general purpose of the invention is to provide a backfilltamping device wherein a plurality of conventional fluid pressure tamperunits may be rigidly connected together to form a unitary assembly forimproved maneuverability of the device, and whereby fluid pressure maybe supplied in a much more satisfactory and advantageous manner to theindividual tamper units of the device.

Another very important purpose of the invention is to provide a backfilltamping device in accordance with the preceding objects wherein the lifeand service of the device and its trouble-free operation may be greatlyprolonged by the provision of means for quickly and easily replacing afluid filter cleaner unit from the interior of the device; and whereinthe fluid under pressure may be supplied to the individual tamper unitsat a much more even and uniform pressure.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one suitable embodiment of apparatusconstituting a backfill tamper in accordance with the principles of thisinvention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the body and supporting framework ofthe device, the individual tamper units, together with the swivellingair hose connection, being removed therefrom;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken upon an enlarged scalesubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3--3 ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substan- 2 tially upon theplane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical central sectional view through the tamping deviceof Figure 2, the swivelling fluid pressure supply conduit and one of thetamper units being shown in dotted lines therein; 7

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 but of-a modilield constructionof the apparatus;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the interchangeable collets fordetachably securing one end of the tamper units to the body portion ofthe apparatus; and

Figure 8 is a group perspective view of the filter cleaner constructionof Figures 1-5 and of an air supply pipe member associated therewith.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, thereis disclosed, by way of example of the principles of the invention only,a satisfactory embodiment of a backfill tamping device together with aslightly modified arrangement of a filter cleaner and its associationwith the rest of the apparatus. It should be understood that theprinciples of this invention are equally applicable to an apparatuswherein the holder and the tamper units may be fabricated and assembledby the manufacturer or one wherein the holder may be separatelymanufactured and the tamper units may be subsequently applied thereto.

In the embodiment of Figures 15, 7 and 8, the backfill tamper is shownas consisting of a plurality of conventional tamper units it which maybe of any one of a large variety of pneumatic or fluid pressure tamperunits now available upon the market, and which are rigidly securedtogether and associated into a unitary assemblage by their attachment toa supporting framework or holder. really cylindrical, substantiallyvertical body or tank 12, the interior of which thus constitutes achamber of the holder body. The body 12 is provided with top and bottomwalls 14 and 16, respectively, which thus constitute closures for thechamber within the body. These walls may be secured to the member 12 inany desired manner, as by welding or the like, and the rim or edges ofthe walls overhang the sides of the member 12, as will be readilyapparent from Figure l.

The bottom wall 16 is provided with a plurality of apertures in whichare secured interchangeable split bushings or collets 18. These membersconsist of half rings having downwardly convergent inner and outer Walls25) and 2.2 respectively, and whereby are formed conical tapering ringswhich are receivable in the apertures in the bottom Wall 16. Pairs ofbolts 24 provided with washers 26 serve to releasably clamp the colletrings or sections in the apertures. The arrangement is such that when atamper unit is positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 5 in the collets,the latter may be drawn downwardly upon the bottom wall by means of thefastening bolts 2d, and due to their conical curvature will be drawntogether to clamp upon and thus rigidly secure the lower portion of thetamper unit. It is intended that the apertures in the bottom wall 16shall be of sufficient size to accommodate a plurality of sizes ofcollets whereby tamper units of greatly varying diameter may be readilysecured to the holder.

The top wall 1 3-, as shown best in Figures 5 and 6, includes upper andlower plates 28 and 30 which are slightly vertically spaced from eachother to provide a manifold chamber 32 thorebctwce. The bottom wall 30is provided with an aperture or opening 34 which is positioned centrallyof the cylindrical member 12 to thus provide unrestricted communicationbetween the manifold chamber 32 and the chamber within the member 12.Thus, fluid under pressure within the chamber 12 may freely flow Thelatter may conveniently comprise a gen- U into the manifold 32 for apurpose to be subsequently set forth.

The bottom plate 39 of the top wall 14, in vertical alignment with theapertures in the bottom wall 16, is provided with openings havingdepending tubular nipples 36. These nipples serve both to communicatethe interior of the manifold 32 with the tamper unit 10, and being screwthreadedly engaged with the upper end of the tamper units also serve toansist in supporting the latter. The tamper units are thus supported bythe nipples 36 from the manifold assembly, and by the colletconstruction from the bottom wall 16. By this means, the tamper unitsmay be readily installed or removed in a manner which will now beclearly apparent.

A handle means is provided extending substantially horizontally from thetop portion of the device whereby the apparatus may be readilymaneuvered by the operator. This handle means preferably comprises arod-like member 38 which may be of tubular construction having handlegrips at its opposite ends and having its mid portion extending into andforming a side wall of the manifold chamber 32 between the top andbottom plates 28 and 30 thereof. It will thus be seen that the handle isattached to the device throughout the periphery of the manifold assemblyto which the tamper units are individually connected and attached.

It should be observed at this point that the manifold chamber 32 is ofsuch size and its communication 34 with the interior of the body 12 isof such size thatthere is no restriction to fluid flow, and consequentlysubstantially no diminution in fluid pressure as the pressure fluid issupplied from the chamber within the body 12 through the manifoldassembly and the nipples 36 into the tamper units 10. Thus, starving ofany tamper unit is substantially obviated, insuring that each unit willreceive its full supply and volume of the pressure fluid for operatingthe same.

The present invention includes as an important feature thereof aprovision for supplying the pressure fluid to the chamber within themember 12 in a greatly improved manner. For this purpose, pressure fluidfrom any suit able source is supplied, as, for example, by a flexiblehose 42 to a conduit portion 44 of generally L-shaped configurationthrough a conventional manual control valve 46. The member 44 has ahorizontally extending portion by which it is connected to the valveassembly 46, and a vertically extending portion which is swivellyreceived for horizontal swinging movement in an upstanding tubular boss48, which is Welded or otherwise secured to the top plate 28 of themanifold assembly and extends through this plate, a retaining nut orgland 56 being provided to retain the conduit portion 44 in the boss forhorizontal swinging movement relative thereto.

Also secured in the boss 48 is a pipe member SZ-forming a part of thepressure supply means for the-apparatus, and which depends from the bossinto the interior of the chamber Within the body 12. By means of thispipe member, fluid under pressure is supplied directly to the interiorof the chamber within the body.

It is also an important feature of this invention to provide an airfilter screen means within the body for filtering the fiuid suppliedunder pressure to the body prior to its delivery to the individualtamper units. In the arrangement shown in Figure 5, the filter screen 54may conveniently consist of a foraminous cylindrical member having a topclosure wall and reinforcing member 56 therein into which the end of thepipe 52 extends. The pipe may be provided with a lateral flange 53resting upon the member 54, and any conventional scaling or packingmeans 64) may be provided between the pipe 52 and the member 56 as shownin Figure 5.

Means are provided to facilitate removal or application of the filterscreen 54 to the air supply means. For this purpose, the bottom wall l6is provided with an aperture having an internally threaded plug or gland62. An externally threaded bushing 64 is received in this gland and isprovided with an internally threaded bore 66 closed by a closure plug63. The arrangement is such that the lower end of the filter screen 54may be received in a shouldered recess 70 in the member 64- whereby,upon removal of the member 64, the filter may be inserted or replacedthrough the opening in the bottom wall, the member 64 constituting aretainer for engaging the lower end of a filter screen and urging thesame upwardly into tight sealing engagement upon the flange 58. Thus,the pipe member 52 and the member 64 constitute means for securing,supporting and retaining the filter screen in a readily detachablemanner Within the body of the apparatus. The plug 68 constitutes a meanswhereby any condensate collecting within the body may be drained fromthe lower end of the chamber thereof.

In this form of the invention, it will now be understood that by virtueof the horizontally swivelling member 44 the tamping device may bereadily maneuvered by the operator by using the hand grips 40, and thismaneuvering will be unimpaired or unhampered by the connection to theair hose 42. Through this swivelling connection, the maneuverability ofthe device is greatly increased and especially where it is necessary tofeed the air hose through horizontal ducts, trenches or tunnels to theplace at which the tamping device is to be used.

The filter screen assembly, of course, strains any dirt or otherparticles from the pressure fluid supplied to the tamper units, therebyprolonging the life of the latter and preventing any detrimental eifectsupon the operation of the tamper by the penetration of such materialinto the valve mechanism or the working parts of the tamper.

The embodiment of Figure 6 is very similar to that of the embodimentpreviously described, except for a re versal of the arrangement of thefilter screen. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are usedto designate the same parts as are employed in the preceding embodiment.However, in this form, the bottom wall 16 is imperforate and constitutesa permanent closure for the bottom of the member 12, but is providedwith a central, upstanding, rod-like element having a lateral flange 82thereon. The filter screen member 84 may be identical with thatpreviously described, but merely inverted as to its positioning in thebody; but if desired may be considerably longer than the screen 54,since greater space is available for positioning the same in the chamberof the body 12. Thus, at its lower end, the screen 84 is provided with aclosure member 86 similar to the member 56, and provided with a packingor sealingmember 88 similar to the member 60.

However, the upper plate 28 of the top wall 14 is provided with aninternally threaded bushing or sleeve 90 similar to the sleeve 62, inwhich is removably received an externally and internally threaded glandor retaining member 92. Similar to the previously described member 64.This retainer is provided with a shouldered recess 94, similar to therecess 70 for receiving the upper end of the filter screen 84 therein.The swivelling conduit portion 44 is swivelly received in the member 92and retained therein as by a nut or gland 96 in the same manner as thateffected by the gland 50 in Figure 5.

In this arrangement, it will be seen that the filter screen may beremoved and replaced through the opening in the top wall rather thanthrough the opening in the bottom Wall as in the preceding form.However, the filter screen is supported and retained in position bymeans of the retainer'92 inthe top wall and a rod-like supporting member80 of the bottom wall in substantially the same way as the filter screenof Figure 5 is retained by the members 52 and 64.

This arrangement provides a ready means for replacing the filter screensas the same may become necessary.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A holder for a pneumatic reciprocating tool comprising a supportingbody having a fluid receiving and delivering chamber therein, meansadapted to supply fluid under pressure into said chamber, means forsupporting a plurality of fluid pressure operated elements upon theexterior surface of said body, means for delivering fluid from saidchamber to said plurality of fluid pressure operated elements, ametallic fluid screen disposed in said chamber, a pair of supports forrigidly holding said screen at its opposite ends, said chamber having apair of walls, one of said walls having an opening therein, one of saidsupports being mounted in said opening and being removable therethroughwith the screen.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pair of walls comprises topand bottom walls, one of said supports being mounted upon each of saidwalls.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a pipe member in said chamberand carried by one of said walls, said supply means being connected tosaid pipe member, said screen surrounding the outlet end of said pipemember.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a rod-like member on the otherof said walls from that having the opening, said rod-like membercomprising one of said pair of supports.

5. A holder for a pneumatic reciprocating tool comprising a supportingbody having a fluid receiving and delivering chamber therein, meansadapted to supply fluid under pressure into said chamber, means forsupporting a plurality of fluid pressure operated elements upon theexterior surface of said body, means for delivering fluid from saidchamber to said plurality of fluid pressure operated elements, ametallicfluid screen disposed in said chamber, said chamber having top andbottom walls, support means carried by each of said walls for supportingsaid screen therebetween.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein one of said walls has an openingof suflicient size for passage of the screen therethrough, one of saidsupport means being 6 engaged in said opening and being operable toclamp the screen against the other support means.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein one of said walls has an openingof suflicient size for passage of the screen therethrough, one of saidsupport means being engaged in said opening and being operable to clampthe screen against the other support means, the other support meanscomprising a pipe communicating with the supply means and extending intothe screen.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein one of said walls has an openingof suflicient size for passage of the screen therethrough, one of saidsupport means being engaged in said opening and being operable to clampthe screen against the other support means, the other support meanscomprising a rod-like member integral with the other wall from thathaving the opening and engaging the screw.

9. The combination of claim 5 wherein one of said walls has an openingof suflicient size for passage of the screen therethrough, one of saidsupport means being engaged in said opening and being operable toclampthe screen against the other support means, the other support meanscomprising a rod-like member integral with the other wall from thathaving the opening and engaging the screw and extending thereinto.

10. The combination of claim 5 wherein one of said support meansincludes a pipe extending into said screw intermediate the ends thereofand having communication with said fluid supply means.

11. The combination of claim 5 wherein one of said support meansincludes a pipe extending into said screw intermediate the ends thereofand having communication with said fluid supply means, said pipe havinga laterally enlarged portion abutting against the end of said screen forclamping the latter against the other support means.

12. The combination of claim 5 wherein one of said walls is providedwith an opening, one of said support means comprising a bushing receivedin said opening, said screw being mounted at one end in said bushing,said bushing and screen being removable through said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.23,763 Brown Jan. 5, 1954 1,337,020 Milker Apr. 13, 1920 1,839,379Downing Ian. 5, 1932

